Light fixture



0d. 19, 1943. H, EPsTElN 2,332,138

LIGHT FIXTURE Filed June 12, 1941 N HHUIIIII n Patented Oct. 19, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- f l 2,332,138 f 1` '1" i LIGHT rnrrUItE Hirsch Epstein, Chicago, Ill. Application JunevlZ, 1941,' Serial No. 397,757

A (c1. 411-1301( i 1 Claim.

'I'his invention relates to illuminating xtures, and more particularly to such xtures as are provided for illuminating commercial or industrial establishments. lIt is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an illuminating fixture of the above mentioned character with means for receiving a sign for conveying a message which may be informative, advertising, or the like, which sign will afford substantially no interference with the functioning of the iixture as an illuminating means. By way of example, in large stores it is customary to provide signs which will indicate the number of the aisle, or the type of merchandise sold at a given position, or will indicate the position oi the cashiers desk, wrapping clerk, or the like. In accordance with the present invention such messages may be placedon the illuminating fixture and will not interfere with the functioning of the fixture for illuminating purposes. l

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an illumination fixture of the above mentioned character wherein there is provided a portion for receiving individual letters or groups of letters to convey a desired message, and which letters may be readily and easily changed as desired. y

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a sign in a xture utilizing glow discharge lighting tubes or lamps. Such lamps generally consist of a straight tube of glasslike material having a cathode at each end between which ends a glow discharge, of electric arc is formed in the tube for providing the necessary illumination. The message receiving portion of the xture is preferably placed above the lightl producing lamps so that it receives a small amount of light therefrom but does not substantially interfere with the transmission oflight for general illuminating purposes.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a fixture embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal side view of the xture of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sign or' message carrying portion of the xture; and

i Figure 5 is an enlarged View of the sign or message carrying-portion of Figure 3. f

The fixture ofthe present invention includes a top plate I having a hollow body 2 -secured to the underside-thereof, which hollow body extends substantiallyjthe full length of the plate) and is preferably, although not necessarily, formed -of metal. The exterior surface of the hollow body 2 is preferably of a color that will reflect light efficiently, .preferably white enamel. 'I'he body 2 is secured to the top plate I in any desired manner as, for instance, by a series of screws 3- that extend through slightly oversized holes in vrest upon the top plate I.

the plate I 'and thread into the body 2, the oversized holes being provded to permit a slight longitudinal adjustment ofthe body 2. Semi-cir-` cular end plates 5 and 6 of identical 'construc-` tion are secured to the ends of the cover I and constitute end closures for the hollow body 2. These plates may be secured to the plate I in any desired manner as, for instance, by means of angle strips 8 that are welded or otherwise secured one to each end plate and extend over and A small angle bracket II! is welded or otherwise secured to each end of the plate I and has a threaded stud II extending therefrom through a hole in the associated end plate. A nut I2 threads on the stud II and thus holds the end plate against retraction. Each end plate thus serves as a removable cover for the ends of the housing 2. j e A An angle bracket strip I5 is secured to the'angle strip 8 of each end plate, as by means of a screw I6 passing vthrough an oversized hole in the bracket I5, topermit slidable adjustment of the bracket. VThe two brackets I5 at the opposite end plates 5 and 6 are joined by upper and lowerV U-shaped metal strips I8 and I9 that are spot Welded to the depending arms 20-20 of the brackets I5. The U-shaped strips I8 and I9 constitute a trackway for receiving a rectangular backing 23 of suitable translucent material preferably, although not necessarily, white. This may consist of a thin strip of thermoplastic material. It is held in the trackways formed by the folded U-shaped strips I8 vand I9,-which strips looselsT embrace thebacking. There is sufficient space between the backing 23 and the strips I8 and I9 to permit the insertion of individual letter strips 25. Each letter may consist of a transparent plasic stripV having the desired letter printedv thereon, preferably in opaque paint or the like. The letter strips are suciently ilexible to permit iiexing of the same for insertion into or removal from between the trackways I8 and I9, where they are held snugly, since the thickness of each letter 25 plus the thickness of the backing 23 is approximately equal to the width of the U-shaped trackways in the strips I8 and I9.

The hollow body 2 has two sockets 28-28 located adjacent the end plate 5 and two similar sockets adjacent the end plate 6. These sockets are of the usual type adapted to receive a hot cathode type of glow discharge lamp such as is indicated at 30 and 3l. These lamps provide the usual illumination. Some of the light` from the lamp 30 is directed upwardly Where it strikes the surfaces 34 of the housing 2, from which surfaces it is reflected forward through the translucent backing 23 and the light letters 25. The printing on the letters 25 thus appears as black or opaque printing on a white background.

It is to be noted that the sign portion of the fixture, that is, the backing 23, extends almost radially of the light bulb 30, as seen in Figure 3. As a result it affords substantially noobstruction to passage of the light raysto the top of the fixture as may be desired for reflecting purposes in order to enhance the general room illumination. The light rays that pass through the backing 23 are all substantially raysreilected from the `surfaces 34. i

The fixture of Figure 2 is adapted to be mounted assenza s in place in the usual manner by means of a fitting 35.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. What I consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A light fixture and sign comprising a support, a tubular lamp mounted on the xture and exposed along a longitudinally extending side for general room illumination, said xture including means `forming a light reflecting surface in the path of light rays from the lamp, and a sign carried by the fixture and extending longitudinally of the tubular lamp adjacent the lamp and in a direction substantially radially thereof and in the path of light rays from the lamp that are reflected from the fixture, said sign comprising a translucent backing and means for releasably holding individual letters in place against one side of the backing, said.V sign including also supporting brackets at opposite ends thereof, and means for adjustably mounting said brackets on the fixture.

HIRSCH EPSTEIN. 

